New Data Reveals Focus on Pets for Fall and Halloween

More than 75 percent of pet parents are planning to dress their pets up for Halloween and other fall occasions, with city-dwelling pet parents even planning to match their pets’ fall attire to their own. This data is among findings from a new survey by leading pet specialty retailer PetSmart, which uses consumer insights to plan and develop new products, collections and partnerships for pet parents. The survey reveals insights that point to the dedication and devotion of pet parents.

The collected responses detail pet parents’ plans to dress up their pets for Halloween and other special occasions, ways that they’ll incorporate pets into fall activities and how pets drive their social media likes throughout the Halloween season and beyond.

“The dedication we see from pet parents every day at PetSmart is what inspires us to do Anything for Pets,” said Stacia Andersen, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for PetSmart. “Data-driven consumer insights help us continue navigating our in-store and online offerings while developing new, convenient ways for pet parents to shop. The insights gained from this new data showcase the many ways pet parents include their pets in seasonal activities and point to a positive outlook for the pet industry.”

Planning for Fall Activities

Pet parents don’t plan to leave their pets behind when enjoying seasonal activities. When it comes to fall traditions, pets are along for the ride for road trips and vacations (47 percent), social gatherings (43 percent) and outings to enjoy fall foliage and other seasonal changes (39 percent). With Halloween around the corner, a quarter (25 percent) plan to take their pets trick-or-treating.

Dressing for the Occasion

More than 3 in 4 (76 percent) pet parents like to dress up their pets for Halloween and other fall occasions with nearly a third (30 percent) planning to dress their pets up more than once this Halloween. Millennials lead the pack in dressing up their pets (86 percent) compared to other cohorts – Gen Z (81 percent), Gen X (74 percent) and Boomers (59 percent). A majority (66 percent) of pet parents say they change their pets’ accessories or apparel seasonally.

City-dwelling pets, often out and about with their pet parents, are most likely to wear accessories or apparel that matches their owners. In fact, a majority (70 percent) of urban pet parents say they have matched their pets’ attire with their own. According to the survey, this practice is less common in suburban and rural areas.

Begging for Attention

About a third (32 percent) of pet parents think their pets in a costume would draw the most attention. When it comes to social media, pets clearly rule. Over a third (37 percent) of pet parents say all of their posts with pictures of their pets garner the most attention from friends and family on social media. More than one in four (28 percent) of parents with kids say that their pets also capture the most attention on social media.

PetSmart is meeting pet parents’ product and experience demands through exclusive proprietary brands, licensed partnership strategies and a wide range of services to provide pet parents with anything they need to treat their pets this fall season.